A 54-year-old mum who believes God gave her breast cancer as a punishment for using her boss' Visa to run-up bills has been freed on a 12 month suspended jail term.
The Crown Court heard for 18 months Anne Black, from Castle Oak in Castledawson spent over £16,000 using the Visa to pay for holidays, groceries, and other bills.
Defence lawyer Luke Curran said that a remorseful Black had never tried to minimise her offending and "believes her breast cancer is a punishment from God".
Mr Curran also revealed that Black was awaiting the sale of her home "pay back every penny with interest" that she took from her former employers.
Judge Gemma Loughran told Black that in "normal circumstances" she would have jailed her, even for a short period, but in all the circumstances she was prepared to suspend her year-long sentence for three years.
Judge Loughran however, also imposed a £5,000 fine, telling Black it was "to bring it home to you that your pocket must suffer".
Prosecutor Joe McCrisken said that Black, who admitted three charges of dishonesty, had been an office manager with architects Donnelly and O'Neill and had a Visa card to pay for expenses.
However, between March 2007 and November 2008, she used the card to pay for holidays to Cyprus and Germany, and to buy items from Amazon, B&Q, and to pay for groceries as well as mobile and Sky TV bills.
Mr McCrisken also revealed that she borrowed a colleague's office Visa and over two days ran up bills of over £600.
© UTV News